The newest member of Dowagiac’s royal sisterhood will be crowned later this month, as the Miss Dowagiac Scholarship Pageant hosts its 77th ceremony on Saturday, Jan. 23.

Over the next two weeks, the Dowagiac Daily News will feature the profiles of the 10 ladies vying for the crown.

This year’s pageant will begin at 7 p.m. inside the Dowagiac Middle School Performing Arts Center. Tickets for the event are available inside the office of the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce, inside the Dowagiac train depot.

Name: Rebecca Fletcher

Contestant number: 9

Age: 17

Height: 5 foot 5

Eye color: Brown

Parents: Jeffrey and Crystal Fletcher

Sister: Stephanie, age 19

School attending: Dowagiac Union High School

Grade: 12

School activities: Womens chorale, girls soccer, girls golf

Outside activities: Work at McDonald’s

Interests and hobbies: Fishing, hunting, snowboarding

Awards and honors: Honors to high honors, third year choir

Three words to describe you: Intelligent, humorous, and confident

What are your ambitions and plans after graduation? My ambitions and plans after graduation are to go to college to become an oncologist.

What is your greatest accomplishment? My greatest accomplishment has been volunteering in every event or activity I can that our school’s choir does.

Why did you decide to compete for the title of Miss Dowagiac? I decided to compete for the title of Miss Dowagiac because it’s an experience of a lifetime, a great way to meet new people, and a way to present yourself to the business world.